Harvey Nicks celebrates British fashion

The luxury emporium hosted a tribute to the burgeoning British fashion industry last night

On Thursday evening, Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor restaurant heaved as fashion critics, designers (including Richard Nicoll, Michael van der Ham and Fyodor Golan) and media toasted the British fashion industry. Hosted by the Mayor of London and his promotional agency, London & Partners, in association with the British Fashion Council, An Evening of British Fashion celebrated our growing sartorial success.

It is internationally recognized that London is the birthplace of creative talent, and thats a reputation were very proud of. But London Fashion Week has always been seen as a poorer cousin to Paris, New York and Milan, Munira Mirza, deputy mayor for education and culture, and one of four influential speakers on the night told guests. London Fashion Week is finally being recognized as more polished, more glamorous and an event to be taken seriously. The recognition that the British fashion industry is now receiving proves the volume and success of its growth.

At LFW AW12 in February, designers generated more than £75m in salesa figure industry figures expect to see exceeded in September. Fashion today is a huge earner for the UK economy, Mirza added. It contributes £21bn and supports over 816,000 jobs.

As well as new visitors, Februarys Fashion Week saw the return of some of Britains most celebrated talent, with Stella McCartneys homecoming and Sarah Burton staging her first ever McQ catwalk show here. Next season, Preen will return to the London schedule along with new additions including Rag & Bone and More

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